I founded Mercy Medical Center to live out Jesus Christ’s call to serve “the least of these” by expanding access to quality medical care for people without health insurance and without the resources required to navigate today’s healthcare system. Too often, cost, transportation, and unstable living situations stand between patients and necessary treatment. Our work is focused on removing those barriers and delivering reliable, compassionate care.
With that in mind, and with the deep hope that my words will inspire our elected officials to do unto others as they would have done unto them, I strongly encourage our lawmakers to fully support the Medicare Advantage program, which offers seniors and those living with disabilities affordable, high-quality healthcare they need and deserve. At its core, Medicare Advantage reflects the same values that guide our work at Mercy. By expanding access to coordinated, affordable care, the program helps us better serve those who need it most.
Medicare Advantage’s affordability eases seniors’ financial anxieties, allowing them to access the medical care they need and focus their energies on getting well rather than spending time worrying about medical bills. For those members looking to maintain good health, Medicare Advantage provides extensive preventive and wellness programs. Preventive care detects health problems early, while they are still easily treatable. Medicare Advantage’s wellness programs keep seniors fit and mobile, preserving their day-to-day quality of life. Medicare Advantage understands that good health doesn’t happen by accident, especially as we age, and provides program members with the tools they need to take their healthcare into their own hands, as well as the opportunity to reach out for affordable care when needed.
It’s disheartening to me to see how often a worthy healthcare program like Medicare Advantage ends up in line for cuts. This year’s Advance Rate Notice essentially does just that—a marginal increase in funding for Medicare Advantage at a time when cost of living continues to climb. For seniors and people living with disabilities, healthcare is not just about treating illness, it’s about maintaining independence, stability and quality of life. Medicare Advantage supports that goal by offering access to essential services like vision, dental and mental health care, which too often fall outside traditional coverage. Loneliness is also an enormous problem in senior and disabled/home-bound communities. Medicare Advantage offers vibrant programs and events designed to keep its members active and engaged in the world to the best of their individual ability. Medicare Advantage also provides regular care coordination for beneficiaries dealing with chronic illnesses.
Cuts to Medicare Advantage would force healthcare plans to slash necessary benefits and critical services. Cuts would force Medicare Advantage to reduce its medical networks, leaving members with fewer choices in doctors, specialists, and hospitals. It would leave seniors and the disabled unsure of what comes next for their healthcare and worrying about how long they will be able to take care of their health. I encourage Senators Britt and Tuberville to continue fighting for Alabama’s citizens by protecting Medicare Advantage. They must prioritize stability in Medicare Advantage benefits and predictability in its rates. Any other choice puts our most vulnerable citizens at unnecessary risk.
